Covering for walls



UNIT D STATES MELVIN B. CHURCH, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

COVERING FOR WALLS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 259,493, dated June 13,1882.

Application filed January 13, 1882.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MELVIN B. CHURCH, ofGrand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have inventeda new and useful Improvement in Coverings forWalls; andIdo herebydeclare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description of thesame.

My invention relates to the covering of walls and other surfaces with aplastic or semi-plastic material; and it consists of an improved processwhereby the said walls and surfaces are made with a high finish, capableof repair in case of injury or stain in any part, and of cleaning overthe whole surface, all as hereinafter fully described and distinctlyclaimed.

Heretofore walls have been covered with a preparation offinely-pulverized calcined gypsum mixed with a certain proportion ofglue and reduced to a liquid, said liquid being applied by means of abrush, whereby a surface is formed in smoothness corresponding to thefine'nessof the material and the softnessofthe brush by which it isapplied. In this process the main function of the glue is to preventtheplaster from setting while the workman is applying the liquid to thewall or other surface; butit also tends to give strength and firmness tothe coating. In this process,where the coat is applied, by means ofabrush, in a liquid state, the surface covering is very thin, and whensoiled or injured in any place cannot be so perfectly repaired as not tobe noticed. Further, when soiled it must be resurfaced by the sameprocess by which it was originally covered; and, further, thecomparatively smooth finish can be obtained only on a smooth surface.

I have found that a more durable coating may be applied and betterfinish of surface obtained by using the same material (but preferablywith a larger proportion of glue,) or any equivalent thereof in athicker condition, (such as a plastic or semi-plastic,) applying saidthicker material to the wall, ceiling, or other surface in larger bodyto form a substantial comparatively thick coat, and, after the materialhas set, by putting a smooth-finish surface upon the wall so covered byrubbingwith sand paper, or sand-paper and subsequently a smoothermaterial, such as felt or the like. In this process my inventionsubstantially consists.

(No specimens.)

I may use the material commonly known as alabastine, which consists offinely pulverized and calcined gypsum mixed with a small proportion ofglue, except that I preferably add a small proportion of glue to thealabastine as now made. To this in its dry state I add a sufficientquantity of hot water to reduce the powder to a plastic or semi-plasticcondition. It may be in such condition that it can be applied by meansof a trowel, brush, or other like instrument for spreading a very softplastic substance. On rough brown-sand surface I use the thickermaterial, applied with a trowel; but on a smoother surface I use thethinner material and apply it with abrush; but in all cases I formasubstantial thick coat upon the wall or other surface. After this hasbeen allowed to set its surface presents the marks, striations, androughness of the tool or tools used in the application, and does notafford a smooth uni form finish, desirable on the better class of wallsand ceilings. This finish I give to the surface by means of sand-paper,with which the surface is thoroughly rubbed until it is made perfectlysmooth and even. This process of leveling the rough. uneven surfacepreparatory to the final finish may be aided by brushing the surfacewith a brush and water. All adhering powdery matter may be rubbed off bymeans of a piece of felt, or ch amois, or like material, if the brushand water above referred to be not used. The surface thus obtained is abeautiful marble surface,

which will not turn yellow or discolor by any exposure. When stained byany foreign substances in such quantity as to penetrate the entirecoating, that part so stained may be removed and new material added, andthen rubbed down by sand-paper, as before. This will show no line ofjuncture of the new with the old.

IVhen the whole wall or coating becomes dingy by smoke or from likecause it may be resurfaced by simply sandpaperin g the whole surface andrubbing, or washing with water, as in giving it the original finish.

The plastic or semiliquid material may be made of any desired tint inthe well-known manner.

It is also practicable bythis method to form panels or moldings incolors by laying on the material in lines of different color of the samecomposition, the darker and lighter lines representing panels andmoldings in the usual manner. These lines may be formed by laying on thecolored material first by striping in proper order and evenness, thusforming the panels or molding, and when this is set the coating may beapplied generally to the wall ver the whole surface. When the whole is ret the sandpaperin g process will bring out the colors sharp and clearby removing the outer surface down to the colored lines first'applied.The colored lines might be applied also by cutting away lines in thesurface previouslycoated with the uniform color; but the mode justdescribed is preferable.

In addition to the finish given by the sandpaper and rubbing, I mayimpart an additional gloss by means of a preparation of beeswaxdissolved in benzine or like clear colorless solvent and applied with abrush. This adheres to the cement and gives it a glossy surface. Itshould be finished by rubbing with felt, ehamois, or like substance, andhigher gloss may be given by repeated coats of the preparation andrepeated rubbings. This may also be patched, like the other. It will notturn yellow, like other coatings, and gives an elegant finish.

This process is intended for the better class of houses; but isapplicable to other situations, and may be used upon wood, as well asupon the rough-sand or smooth finish of walls.

This preparation of benzine and wax is made by placing two ounces ofbeeswax (preferably white) in one pint of benzine. This is allowed tostand one hour or more, suificient to allow the benzine to dissolve thewax. The henzine should be atacertaintemperature(aboutsnmmer heat) inorder to dissolve the wax; or, af-

ter adding the wax to the benzine, (-if the henz'ine be cold,) themixture should be placed in a warm room to allow the dissolution of thewax.

This preparation maybe used as a polish for wood and the like. It mayalso be used Ior waxing floors for dancing purposes. For this purpose itmay be applied with a brush, without rubbing or washing, and produceswhat is called a dead varnish, or a coating quite'impervious to water,giving something like an egg-shell gloss.

I am aware that it is old to rub an ordinary plaster wall previous topainting it; but in such cases the rubbing or sandpapering does not givethe finished surface which is attained by my process and material.

The composition is not new; but the special mode of applying it in athick coat and rubbing and treating as described constitutes the essenceof my invention.

I claim as my invention I 1. A coating for walls, consisting of amixture of finely pulverized calcined gypsum mixed with glue insubstantially the proportions specified, the whole laid thickly upon thewall, and having a rubbed and polished surface, substantially asdescribed.

2. A coating for walls, consisting of a mixture of finely pulverizedcalcined gypsum mixed with glue in substantially the proportionsspecified, laid thickly on the wall and polished, in combination with asurfacing of beeswax, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

M. B. CHURCH.

Witnesses:

E. A. DICK, DAVID H. MEAD.

